Reaction to Temptation Requires Two Responses: Decisiveness and Commitment

Pleasure, Power, and Honor – this is what Jesus was tempted with.  These are some of the same temptations facing us!  Jesus was tempted in the same ways we are tempted – there is no difference.  With his duel nature as both man and God, Jesus profoundly understands our human temptation.  He is not an unknowing God. 

When used properly, there is nothing wrong with pleasure, power, and honor.  They are all good things.  Temptation entices us to do something that looks very, very good, but is actually not. 

In today’s gospel, the tempter said, “Jesus, if you want people to follow you, give them material things.”  The tempter said, “Jesus, if you want people to follow you, strike a bargain with me.”  The tempter said, “Jesus, if you want people to follow you, amaze them with impressive displays of your status.” 

Reaction to temptation requires two responses: decisiveness and commitment.  It requires a decisive rejection of the evil one’s proposal, followed by a commitment of oneself to the goodness of God.  This is what Jesus did!  This is what we are called to do!

But how similar are the temptations of Jesus to those facing us?  Could you be tempted to turn stone into bread?  Would you accept my offer of wealth and power in exchange for your pledge of fidelity?  Would you consider jumping from the top of this church to prove God’s love for you? 

I doubt that any of you experience these temptations.  You can’t turn stones to bread, you know that wealth and power are not mine to give, and you were never told by God that he would protect you from all harm.  For temptation to be attractive, it has to be possible, even likely.  For us, these are neither!

Although we would not be tripped up by these temptations, there are those that are within our abilities, within our talents, and within our interests to which we could be attracted.  What are our responses to those temptations?  During these 40 days of Lent, the church asks us to reflect on our responses to temptation. 

Let us look closer at each of the temptations Christ endured.    

Let’s Start with the Temptation to Change Stone into Bread.  The Devil came to Jesus suggesting that hunger did not fit the dignity of the Son of God.  The tempter invited Jesus to see to his own needs.  The devil was suggesting that maybe God was abandoning Jesus, and so Jesus had better look out for himself.

Do we sometimes find things in our life that are beneath our dignity?  Are there times when we feel abandoned by God?  So much so that we need to see to things ourselves?  In ways we know are not compatible with the teachings of our faith? 

Implicitly. Satan was saying to Jesus, “Isn’t God treating you kind of poorly?  If so, take care of yourself.  You can look out for yourself better than God can look out for you!”  This temptation was directed against obedience to the Father.

The 2nd Temptation - Here, the Devil takes Jesus up and treats him to a dazzling display of Satan’s influence in the world (which is pervasive).  The Devil entices Jesus to come over to his way: to gain glory in this world by compromising with the demonic forces that control it. 

Are we ever tempted to compromise our principles or those of our faith, just a little, so that we can get ahead or get done that which we think needs to be done?

This temptation is an appeal to Jesus to take control of his own destiny and to give the devil the respect and honor due to God alone.  Satan wanted to break the Son’s relationship to the Father – just as he does ours.   

The 3rd Temptation – The Invitation to Jump from the top of the Temple  Here, Jesus is encouraged to provoke a life-threatening situation and force the issue of divine protection.  In essence, the devil would have Jesus say by this action, “Father, I am not certain you will take care of me, so to check you out, I am going to place you in a situation where you must take care of me now - and on my terms.” 

Do we sometimes try to dictate the terms of God’s love for us in our daily lives?  Do we ever put demands on Him to prove His love for us?

Let me Summarize These Temptations - While in the desert, Jesus was likely struggling with the form his ministry was to take.  The first temptation was social: Will Jesus’ ministry be one of turning stones to bread; thereby, giving his people material goods?  The second temptation was political: Will Jesus submit to the ruler of this world in order to achieve good for his people?  The third temptation was religious: Will Jesus win Jerusalem through displays of supernatural power? 

Real temptation entices us to do what looks to be a “good”; as in these instances presented to Christ.  Stones to bread! The hungry hope so.  Take political control!  The oppressed hope so.  Leap from the temple!  Those longing for assurance of God’s power among us hope so.

Real temptation is an offer not to fall but to rise.  The tempter in Eden did not ask, “Do you wish to be as the devil?” but rather, “Do you wish to be as God?”  No self-respecting devil would approach a person with offers of personal ruin.  That is in the small print -- at the bottom of the temptation.  Temptation is so deceptively attractive!

Jesus’ responses to these temptations reveal His approach to His ministry.  First there was the decisive stance against wrongdoing.  Then came the commitment.  Jesus dedicated himself to God’s mission, not his own.  Jesus did not draw attention to himself, but focused on God’s work and God’s truth.  Jesus did not use power to serve himself; rather, he lifted up others and ministered to their physical and spiritual needs.

So, How do These Temptations and Responses Apply to Our Lives?

Resisting temptation is not easy; in fact, it often means self-denial.  And, to be effective, rejection must be decisive, not half-hearted.  Jesus shows us that the best way to avoid falling into temptation is: not to go one’s own way.  Faithfulness to God involves trusting him, worshiping him alone, and refusing to create a test of his goodness. 

Like Christ, we must decisively reject offers of sinful gain or advancement; we must seek fulfillment in the worship and service of God only; and we must walk by faith, not by sight in our lives.

So, our task is not to bargain with God to change our circumstances.  It is not to get God to see things our way.  Our task is to decisively reform ourselves such that we attentively listen for God’s call to each of us personally, and that we joyfully follow that call in living our lives.  Our actions and our will will then conform to God’s plan for our lives. 

We, the Body of Christ, are the builders of the New Kingdom.  Let us do it the way God wants us to do it and not the way we think it should be done. 

And in building this Kingdom, the hard way of service and of suffering may lead us to the cross.  Being committed to the way of God in the world does not exempt us from the struggle.  In fact, it is often those who are trying the hardest to conform to God’s will who seem to experience most intensely the opposition of evil.  But, if we withstand temptation with the help of God, after the cross we will be led to the crown.